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1 

I 



THE 



n 




RIVER OF DREAMS 



AND 



OTHER POEMS 



BY 

G. E. O. 

AUTHOR OF "THURID AND OTHER POEMS.' 












BOSTON 

LEE AND SHEPARD, PUBLISHERS 

NEW YORK 

LEE, SHEPARD, AND DILLINGHAM 

1875 



75 



zro^ 



• On 



Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1875, by 

Lee and Shepard, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



RIVERSIDE, CAMBRIDGE: 

STEREOTYPED AND PRINTED BY 

H. O. HOUGHTON AND COMPANY. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS, 



CONTENTS 



PAGE 

THE RIVER OF DREAMS 7 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

ASLAUGA 77 

A Lily 87 

Sonnet 89 

Fortune's Favorite ..90 

A Song of the Woodbine 95 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 



A MYSTIC land, where every shadow seemed 
Reality, and every substance shade ; 
A region weird, where grotesque phantoms played 
'Mid hazy clouds that o'er the landscape dreamed ; 
Through such a realm the silent river flowed 
'Twixt banks which with the richest verdure teemed, 
Where rarest fruits and brightest flowerets showed. 



8 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

II. 

Yet, drawing near to cull these blossoms fair, 
Their petals lost their color and their grace, 
Their leaves grew rank and stiff; no single trace 
Of what but now had charmed the eye was there ; 
While others, which poor homely weeds had 

seemed, 
Lent sweetest fragrance to the burdened air, 
And purely lined, in modest beauty beamed ! 

in. 

A rosy vapor hung o'er all around, 
Stirred softly by a gentle breath that swayed 
Its cloudy volume, whence were ever made 
Strange curling outlines which anon were drowned 
In misty depths ; then rose in other guise ; 
Wild, twisting, intermingling shapes which wound 
O'er unseen paths, till lost to mortal eyes ! — 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 9 

IV. 

A land it was where contradiction reigned ; 
Where true and false usurped each other s part ; 
Where often both were blended with such art 
That each concealment from the other gained : 
A thousand standing by the river's side, 
Though toward the self-same scene their eyes 

were strained, 
A different view by each had been descried ! 

v. 

From out the denser mist that closely veiled 

The rivers source, a vague uncertain sound 

As if of fluttering wings, and voices drowned 

To lowest murmur heard afar, that failed, 

And sank anon to silence, met the ear ; 

It came as though a myriad spirits sailed 

On pinions light, and sang, "Why wait we here!" 



10 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

VI. 

Upon the margin of the hazy screen 

Beside the river, sat an aged man, 

Across whose brow deep time-worn furrows ran. 

His flowing garb was coarse, though grand his mien ; 

His face, whence flowed a silken silvered beard, 

Bespoke a soul sad, patient, and serene ; 

While in his eyes the soul itself appeared ! 

VII. 

His head lay on his hand ; his snowy hair 
Reached drifting through his fingers to the ground ; 
And on the stream his dreaming gaze was bound ; 
His thought coursed aeons back when space was 

bare 
Of circling worlds, and Time itself was young: 
Drear memories ! when life, and light, and air 
Were not, — ere seraphs in the heavens sung ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. II 

VIII. 

Yet, when from out the misty curtain's keep, 
There floated slowly on the sluggish tide, 
A skiff that drifted toward the river's side, 
And bore two voyagers, sunk in deepest sleep, 
He rose, and bending by the bank reached o'er 
The stream, and from the current dark and deep 
Drew the light boat in silence to the shore. 

IX. 

Lying at length, with broad and deep-set chest 
Which gently rose and fell, and upturned face, 
His strong limbs bent in all unconscious grace, 
Did he who seemed the younger slumbering rest 
Beside the oars in tired abandonment, 
A mass of black and curling hair caressed 
His snowy brow, and deepest contrast lent. 



12 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

X. 

Upon his cheek the hot blood toned its hue 

To softest crimson, paling as it spread ; 

Yet o'er his lips a warmer color shed ; 

The full, large mouth, where worth and folly drew 

The bow for victory which neither gained, 

Where strength and weakness intermingled grew, 

Bespoke a soul where only Impulse reigned ! 

XI. 

The other slept, with nerveless hand bent round 

The wavering helm, and head sunk on his breast. 

His face fair-hued, strong, clearly cut, expressed 

A spirit calm, where Meditation found 

Her own domain, and sat enthroned high 

O'er every baser sense ! — Where Reason crowned 

Each light paced thought, and lent it majesty! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 1 3 

XII. 

Then he who waited by the river's side, 
Looked from the sleepers with a pitying eye 
Far down the stream, as though he fain would try 
To pierce the mists that veiled its course, and 

sighed ; 
And once again the oarsman's form o'erscanned, 
Who restless moved, as if his sense were tied 
But lightly now, in slumber's filmy band ! 

XIII. 

Anon, with sluggish lips that strove in vain 
To form reply to voices, fainter heard, 
As murmuring he awoke, with senses blurred 
By drowsy mists which yet hung o'er his brain, 
The oarsman oped his eyes, and listless gazed 
Upon the sky, then closed his lids again, 
To hide the seeming dream his vision raised. 



14 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XIV. 

An instant only thus, for to his ear 

Came soft the melting murmur of the tide, 

And rustle of the fields on either side, 

With fluttering of birds that flitted near 

And brushed the pattering dew from leaf and 

spray, 
Or trilled their song of waking, low and clear ; 
The fresh vibrations of the early day ! 

xv. 

Scarce rising then, he brushed with fingers light 
The web of sleep that veiled his gaze away, 
And viewed amazed the scene that round him lay ; 
Yet, when he turned, and to his eager sight 
Came that o'erbending face, with kindly eyes 
Which greeted his, and seemed with their own light 
To read his soul, he thrilled with fresh surprise. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 1 5 

XVI. 

" What misty land is this, of forms unknown ; 
Whence came we here, and whither are we bent ; 
Upon what weighty mission are we sent, 
And who art thou that waitest here alone ? " 
With hurried lips he asked, and as he spoke 
The helmsman's ear, jarred by the eager tone, 
Warned sleep to fly, and starting he awoke. 

XVII. 

Then, pausing ere he spoke, their aged friend, 
In rounded, iron tones whose measured sound 
Within their hearts a solemn echo found,. 
Thus answered : " Ye would seek to know the 

End, 
To grasp the prize which only toil can give, 
And gain in youth what age alone can lend ; 
To have and know is but to work and live ! 



1 6 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XVIII. 

" Ye enter on your voyage, but to learn 
The wisdom which but labors self can yield ; 
And thus that ye may be, my lips are sealed, 
Then patient wait for Truths ye yet may earn, 
For, knowing all, the passage were but vain ; 
And thoughtful, steadfast, to your journey turn, 
And find its worth and feel its joy and pain. 

XIX. 

" Know this alone ; a mightier far than I 
Hath sent ye here, a Power so infinite, 
That every throbbing star in heaven, bright, 
Would fade and fall in emptiness to die, 
Should that vast Will but answer to the thought. 
Ye are the fellows of the stars on high, 
Parts of that boundless whole one Power hath 
wrought ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 17 

XX. 

* I, a poor, patient servitor, but wait 
To launch ye from the shore, to safely glide 
Past all the treacherous eddies of the tide, 
Which here do threaten ye, and where your fate 
If once entoiled, were instant and complete ; 
Where this frail skiff, whirled round at furious rate, 
At unknown depths 'gainst biting rocks would beat ! 

XXI. 

" Across the broadened flood hangs, far away, 

A misty curtain, deeper and more vast 

Than this from whose soft shade ye scarce have 

passed ; 
There lies the goal, and there some golden day 
Shall ye the wherefore of your toil receive, 
And ponder Truths which words cannot convey, 
And for a time from labor find repreive ! 



1 8 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XXII. 

" The voyage is long ; with ye it lies alone 
To gather import from each varied scene ; 
To find a soul in every grass-blade green, 
And in each flower a friend and fellow own ; 
To catch the living strains that swell and die 
On every tuneful breeze toward ye blown, 
And learn the chords of Natures symphony. 

XXIII. 

" Note when at times a gem of Turquoise sky 
Shows for an instant through the clouds afar, 
And learn what the unalterable heavens are 
Of Truth, co-dweller with Eternity! 
So shall each find the secret of his soul, 
And, lightening thus his toil, each day will fly 
On blithesome wings to bear ye to your goal. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 1 9 

XXIV. 

Ye will have labored to but little end 
Should cramping Winter find ye on the way, 
For ere the waning Autumn should ye stray 
Within those gardens, where the branches bend 
With peerless fruits, beside the farther veil ; 
And gather them ere eager frosts extend 
Their ghostly hands, to turn them dry and stale! 

xxv. 

" Have only courage and ye will find rest ; 
Now at our parting deeply heed the word, 
And with its import let your souls be stirred J 
Of golden strands, from every virtue blest, 
Is courage wrought, and rest is all the end, 
The present end, a strong and patient breast 
May dare to ask, or that the time can lend/' 



20 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XXVI. 

While thus he spoke, a vague remembrance came, 
A fading thought, across each voyager's brain, 
Of other scenes, like pictures that remain 
Disordered from a dream ; strange shades that 

claim 
No outline, yet have form, came, waned, and died 
Ere he had ceased ; and memory failed to frame 
The misty figured past, which God would hide ! 

XXVII. 

Then from the bank upon the golden sand, 
Where shallow ran the stream beside the shore, 
Their aged mentor stepped, and heedful bore 
The light-wrought skiff, with careful guiding hand, 
Till, standing by the channel dark and deep, 
Waist high within the flood, with skilled command 
He urged the boat beyond the eddies' sweep. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 21 

XXVIII. 

He stood there watching them, his snowy beard 
Like light foam drifting on the sullen tide ; 
His flowing sombre garments floating wide ; 
While dimly through the closing mists appeared 
The lessening skiff, and ever fainter grew, 
Until it bore a wavering outline weird, 
And died in vapory distance from his view. 

XXIX. 

All motionless, in silent wonderment 

The voyagers sat, and on the current clear 

Were drifted idly on, till perils near 

Thick clustered 'mid half sunken rocks which bent 

Their flood-hewn points toward them through the 

tide, 
When both aroused, and with one short consent 
Each anxiously his part appointed plied. 



22 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XXX. 

Unwieldy to the laborer's unused hand 
The strong oars seemed, and the helm's mystery 
Came slowly solved to him who sat thereby ; 
Yet grew 'mid urgent need the wished command, 
Until in unison they moved at last 
With powerful, cadenced stroke, and course well- 
planned, 
And each new danger was in safety passed. 

XXXI. 

Thus toiling, lightly did they glide along 
Through blithesome days, and through each restful 

night 
Slow drifted with the stream. Each thought was bright 
With color gathered from the myriad throng 
Of objects new, and their keen pulses thrilled, 
O'erfraught with gladness at the varied song 
Of birds, whose music every coppice filled ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 23 

XXXII. 

At morning and at evening flushed the stream 
With mystic beauty, blushing at the smile 
The kindling sun vouchsafed, which for the while 
Pierced the deep mists with many a golden beam ; 
And often, through the drowsy, rustling night, 
The unseen moon sank vapor-veiled to dream 
Upon the flood, in chastened slumber light ! 

XXXIII. 

At noontide, 'neath some softly whispering shade, 
The voyagers slept, or gathered plenteous store 
Of tempting fruits, from branches bending o'er 
The waveless stream, or else would idly braid, 
In motley garlands, flowers of brightest hue, 
Which once entwined were ever careless laid 
Upon the tide, and drifted from their view. 



24 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

■ 
XXXIV. 

Deep, silent streams joined with the river's flow 
To swell the flood, and each green, misty shore 
Grew ever dimmer, widened more and more, 
In dullest distance sinking blurred and low ; 
While from each merging current came the gleam 
Of dipping oars, in measured stroke and slow, 
And other voyagers floated on the stream. 

XXXV. 

Oft onward, calmly, through the moon-lit haze 
The brothers drifted, and from his hard task 
The oarsman resting, silently would bask 
In golden memories of happy days : ■ 
While sunk in deeper, dreamier revery far 
The other sat, with distant, thoughtful gaze 
That sought through mists their unseen guiding 
star. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 2$ 

XXXVI. 

His hand still guided, though his thought had flown 

On swift and easy pinions far away, 

The helm that in his grasp obedient lay ; 

Thus tranquil would they glide, entranced, alone 

In happy dreams, or tired of silent thought 

Would careless talk in joyous, eager tone, 

Of each new beauty which the day had brought. 

XXXVII. 

On flowed the river, swifter than before, 

'Twixt bolder banks, far stretching clouds of 

green ; 
And thickly scattered o'er the flood was seen 
An ever growing, mingling fleet which bore 
With the dark current onward ; none returned 
Upon their course to seek some upper shore, 
But saw the landscape fading unconcerned. 



26 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XXXVIII. 

And often as they floated thus along, 
Unnumbered voices in full chorus came, 
With round of words which ever ran the same, 
A swelling, solemn, unimpassioned song, 
Whose bare monotony of form grew grand 
From volumed utterance of the drifting throng, 
And respite gave to each tired heart and hand. 

xxxix. 

Yet rose at times a solitary strain 
From some bold singer who discoursed alone, 
A deep, wild, stormy anthem all his own, 
Which gladdened joy, and sorrow gave to pain ; 
And when his song had died, the chorus rung 
In altered score, far stronger once again, 
With echo of the theme he late had sung. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 27 

XL. 

And some there were who strove to hold the ear, 

With rare pretense, by bald and boisterous sound, 

Bravadoing, to hide the barren ground 

Of murky sense, or aped emotion drear, 

On which their empty chants were crudely framed ; 

Weak shafts of song, shot bravely to appear 

Of urgent purpose deep, yet no-where aimed ! 

XLI. 

Again one sang some time-worn harmony, 
With sweetest voice, in cadence clear and true, 
Delighted sang, and thought his anthem new; 
Another toned new themes half-heartedly ; 
Yet none could change the massive chorus swell, 
Save those whose music took the crimson dye 
Of pulsing life-blood from the heart's hot well ! 



28 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XLII. 

Thus o'er the waters came, one silvered night, 

When both the brothers sat in revery, 

A breezy song, so joyous, fresh, and free, 

The oarsman's heart was filled with strange delight, 

With mingled sense of pleasure and unrest ; 

His cheek glowed warm, his deep eyes grew more 

bright, 
The sky seemed clear, and each short moment 

blest ! 

XLIII. 

From out far-distant mists that lay before 
Came the strange melody. Two voices strong, 
In sweetest unison rung out the song ; 
Two voices high and clear which meetly bore 
The words soul-linked to the graceful air ; 
And thus they sung 'mid echoes from the shore 
Which sought to join in harmony so rare : 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 29 



"Love the hot blood of the heart; 
Thy love embracing thee ever 
In warmest desire ! 
Heed its promptings that fire 
Thy breast with a mystical art, 
To bid thee courageously sever 
Thyself from the cares which oppress thee ; 
Which inspire thee to rapturous dreaming, 
And show thee that beauties lie teeming 
In each glowing dream-cloud to bless thee ! 



11. 



" Open thy breast to the light, 
The calm, weird light of the moon ! 
Its white arms around thee, 
No grief can confound thee, 
Nor fear need molest! 
T is the soul of the Night seeking thine, 
To lull thee to rest, to forgetfulness blest 
Of thy toiling and striving! 



30 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

III. 

" Close thine eyes, and rest listening the while 
To the murmur that floats in the air ; 
The soft sweet voice of the leaves, 
That the echoing flower-bells share ; 
To the sound of nestling wings 
That a breath from the shore faintly brings ; 
To the low, drowsy sweep of the stream, 
And the brushing of clouds 
Soft meeting, slow swaying asunder, 
All tell thee to rest and to dream ! 

IV. 

" Seek not to outstrip the river ; 
'T will bear thee in peace to thy goal ! 
Put the hard oars gladly away, 
And drift with the current along; 
Its strong, restless hand will deliver 
Thee timely, and safe at the Veil ! 
Heed not the Winter shrivelled and gray, 
The Old love the Young and the gay ! 
Let the months onward roll 
With dreaming, and laughter, and song ! " 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 3 1 

XLIV. 

Within his heart while came the song and died, 

A sense of longing undefined was born, 

While something brighter from his breast had 

drawn 
To give it place. He bent his head, and sighed, — 
"Ah would such sweet companionship were mine, 
That I might ever journey at their side, 
And still new joys each tranquil hour combine ! ,: 

XLV. 

So far the helmsman strayed in revery, 

He heeded not the song, nor marked the change, 

The fevered look of care, new-born, and strange, 

Upon the face but now so glad and free ; 

Nor noted e'en, when breaking from his rest 

The other sought his task, and hurriedly 

Dipped wide the oars, as if near dangers pressed ! 



32 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XL VI. 

One burning wish to gain the singers' side, 
And share the tranquil joys of which they sung, 
With wildest warmth within his breast had sprung ; 
And with ill-measured, wasted strength he plied 
The dripping blades through hours of toil and pain, 
Till sinking back by fruitless strife o'er-tried, 
With weary eyes he sought the skiff in vain, 

XLVII. 

An instinct strong within his teeming heart, 

With warning voice forbade him to arrest 

His brother's thought, far flown in revery blest, 

To seek his ready counsel, or impart 

The glowing dream which drowned his breast in 

care ; 
And checking each wild word which fain would start 
Upon his lips, his burden strove to bear. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS 33 

XLVIII. 

The morning dawned, slow dragged the heavy day 
With languid breath ; the deepening shadows spread ; 
And once again the rising moon soft shed 
Her mystic flood, and thrilled the mist's dead gray 
With silvered being ! Paused he then to hear 
With full and throbbing heart the charmed lay, 
And looked to find the singers drifting near. 

XLIX. 

But vainly watched he through the long, sad night, 
And started, quivering, at each random strain 
Of melody. The Chorus rose again 
In cadenced majesty; the stream lay bright 
From shore to shore ; yet came no sign, nor 

sound 
To stay his longing spirit on its flight 
To find the idol, which his heart had crowned. 
3 



34 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 



Day followed day, and moon-lit nights passed by, 

And toiling ever, still the oarsman found 

No slightest token e'en, or welcome sound 

To tell him that the singer's boat was nigh. 

Still trustingly he labored at the oar, 

Till one blest evening when his heart beat high 

To hear the voices, seeming close before, 

LI. 

He pausing turned, and saw not far away, 
Mist-dimmed, a skiff which drifted with the tide, 
And on the oar-seat, resting side by side, 
Two fairest forms in draperied vestment gay ; 
Two forms whose newly-rounding outlines told 
Of dawning maidenhood, the full hey-day 
Of wakening blood, and spirit blithe and bold ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 35 

LII. 

A full and jetty mane of flowing hair 

Each low and thoughtless forehead half concealed, 

And loose o'er dimpled shoulders scarce revealed 

Each budding bosom's swelling contour rare ; 

Dark lustrous eyes where Passion's self lay drowned, 

With softly blending features, clear and fair, 

A nameless charm, and sweet accordance found. 

LIII. 

The helm unguarded lay, while to their song 
In tuneful cadence lightly dipped the oars, 
Swung dripping evenly, with measured pause, 
In graceful, all unlabored stroke, and strong. 
Their white arms bared, the rowers lithely swayed 
With equal motion, as they swept along, 
Which ever to the melody obeyed ! 



36 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 



" Toil is the slave, not the King ! 
When the pulse stronger grows, 
And the heart overflows 
With the rapture existence doth lend, 
Bid the vassal obedient attend, 
And dip the bright blades as ye sing ! 

ii. 

" Tyrannic and harsh were his hand, 
Were the sceptre his own, 
And ye knelt at his throne ! 
Though he serves ye with smiles, bending down 
To his task at your ready command, 
Yet black broods his brow 'neath a crown! 

in. 

"Yet bid him begone, when the breast 
Becomes tranquil once more, 
And the tumult is o'er, 
Of life overbounding within ; 
Then sink ye again to your rest, 
And dreams and forgetfulness win ! " 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 37 

LIV. 

Thus ran their song, the while the oarsman gazed 
With ravished eyes ; enraptured at the sight 
Of such rare beauty, and with bosom light, 
He heeded not their careless chant was raised 
With less of melody, in harsher tone, 
Than when he first had lent his ear amazed, — 
And heard, and saw but harmony alone ! 

LV. 

Again he plied the oars, and nearer drew, 
When came a voice strong, liquid-toned, and calm, 
Which held his ear, and checked his laboring arm, 
While thrilled his breast with quick emotion new ; 
From by his side the clear-toned utterance came, 
Where still no sentient being met his view, 
As but an instant since all showed the same ! 



38 THE RIVER OF DREAMS 

LVI. 

It seemed as though some dweller of the air, 
Light hovering o'er the skiff, some essence pure, 
Whose chastened, light-poised being could endure 
No prisoning mould to cramp its spirit rare, 
In voice of warning spoke, as one possessed 
Of wider, loftier powers than mortals wear, 
With wisest counsel sent from regions blest ! 

LVII. 

" Wake, helmsman, from thy revery awake ! 
And bid thy brother brush the film away 
Which dims his sober vision's heathful play ! 
Rouse thee, and by thy timely counsel break 
The damning charm, which doth perforce enchain 
His languid ear, to sickly solace take 
In the idle purport of this tempting strain ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 39 

LVIII. 

il Note well that with each dipping of the oar 
Which brings ye nearer to the singers' side, 
Some little grace of form or face hath died, 
And that their careless chant is born no more 
To drown the sense in richest harmony, 
And e'en the softening echoes from the shore 
Speak sorrowing, with voices harsh and dry ! 

LIX. 

" Then tarry not to waste these early days, 
But ply the oars with ready hand, and guide 
Our skiff with haste far distant' o'er the tide ; 
Our voyage and theirs must lie o'er different ways, 
Or never in the golden Autumn-time 
Shall ye upon the promised gardens gaze, 
Or cull their treasures in the mellow prime. 



40 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LX. 

" Ye are my masters, and my slaves as well ! 

Yours is the labor, mine the fate confined, 

To ever journey with ye on, resigned 

To yield obedience to the mystic spell 

Which binds my lot with yours, and bids me chide 

Your erring powers, when heart and thought rebel 

To turn your course, o'er dangerous ways aside! 

LXI. 

"So close and deftly is the fragile thread 
Of each one's being with the other's weaved, 
Such all dependent strength hath each received, 
That with one motive should our hearts be led, 
And striving thus one common end to gain, 
No troublous chance, nor hindrance need we dread, 
And Danger's self shall threaten us in vain. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 41 

LXII. 

" And when some bright, not distant, future day 
We pass beyond the misty, draperied screen, 
And all the hidden Vast beyond is seen, 
Still shall we journey on one common way, 
Yet not as now with separate cares oppressed, 
But blended, wrought 'neath Nature's subtle sway 
To one deep power ; one essence trebly blest ! 

LXIII. 

" I note the changing, healthier current run 
Within your hearts, and see ye ponder o'er 
These warning words, and seeing hope once more ; 
Yet though in part my anxious task is done, 
And now my voice grows silent once again, 
Remember still, our goal and aim are one, 
And I rest with ye ever to remain!" 



42 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LXIV. 

With throbbing breast, and wondering eyes down- 
cast, 
When from the first surprise their hearts awoke, 
Each sat while thus their unseen brother spoke, 
Listening as to a being who surpassed 
Themselves in power, in patience, reverently ; 
And when the thrilling voice had ceased at last, 
They still sat motionless, and silently. 

LXV. 

" Most grievous is my fault, Oh ! brother mine ; " 

Thus spoke at last the helmsman with a sigh ; 

" My duty bids me with unflagging eye 

To scan the tide, and note each distant sign 

Of hovering danger, 'scaping ere it falls ; 

Far graver then is this my fault than thine, 

Who needst must answer when thy warm blood calls. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 43 

LXVI. 

" For I who am of calmer, colder mould, 
In sunny, blinding dreams forgetful strayed ; 
On me alone the burden should be laid ! 
Yet courage, brother! Once again behold 
With vision cleared from short-lived passion's rheum, 
These forms that charmed thy sense, and rest con- 
soled, — 
Gone seems their grace, and vanished all their 
bloom ! 

LXVII. 

" Let thy unburdened, wakening ear discern 
The idle import of the strain they sing, 
And as a warning let these sharp tones ring 
Within thy breast, whene'er thy heart would turn 
Toward soulless joys, and pleasures born for pain ; 
And from this unveiled folly may we learn 
In part, the lesson we were sent to gain ! " 



44 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LXVIII. 

The oarsman's gaze quick followed o'er the tide 
His brothers pointing hand, and silent held 
The singers' fading skiff, while deeply welled 
Within his breast a sudden joy which died 
Merged in a sorrow that his dream was o'eri 
His heart's scarred gates lay opened clear and wide; 
Those forms and voices charmed his soul no more ! 

LXIX. 

And now they labored through uncheckered days, 
And for a time, despite his brother's cheer, 
The oarsman brooded o'er the shadow drear 
Which memory cast upon the devious ways 
His heart had ta'en, till dimmer grew the past, 
While brighter came new prospects to his gaze, 
And over them dreamed Summer-clouds at last ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 45 

LXX. 

Swifter the river pressed ! the oarsman's hand 
Strove to outstrip the hastening tide no more. 
But with the helmsman's watchful guidance bore 
An equal part, to hold in short command 
The current swinging skiff, and heedful sought 
To frame an even course, and e'er withstand 
The sweeping impulse from the wild tide caught. 

LXXI. 

Though to the oarsman, came with brighter hue 
Each following day, and wakening hope once more 
To his sore heart a kindly solace bore, 
Yet often when at night the brothers drew 
To waters calm, from out the hurrying tide, 
He slept, and on his dreaming vision grew 
A skiff which bore the singers to his side ! 



46 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LXXII. 

Yet ere his lips could welcome them he woke, 
While all his soul grew heavy once again, 
And memory roused the lightly slumbering pain 
Within his heart. Once more his fancy broke 
From chilling judgment of their faults away, 
And tenderly each folly strove to cloak, 
Each beauty decked in colors doubly gay ! 

LXXIII. 

And then his love grew grand and strong again, 
Nor could he sting soft memories from his breast, 
E'en when he conned the grief and sore unrest 
Their song had brought. Such love must e'er re- 
main 
To tone the throbbing of the heart once filled, 
Till some o'ermastering passion boasts its reign, 
And with new longings heart and soul are thrilled ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 47 

LXXIV. 

Though hope still grew, a' weariness o'erspread 
When laboring or at rest, his shadowed face ; 
A worn, heart-languid look, the lingering trace 
Of fair dreams faded, and a bright trust dead. 
With saddened breast the helmsman pitying saw 
The troublous change, while fresh his bosom bled 
To note his brothers sorrow was not o'er ! 

LXXV. 

One evening when beside the sheltering shore, 
In waters still, wherein soft shadows dreamed, 
They drifted onward where the veiled moon beamed 
A narrow track, across the shades before. 
A streamlet flowing wooded banks between, 
Here parted from the flood, and silvered bore 
Its silent course through pathless forests green. 



48 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LXXVI. 

Then spoke the helmsman : " Brother bind thy 

thought, 
Which fain would ever turn toward the past, 
And toward the morrow let thy gaze be cast ; 
Nor hold these present restful hours for nought ! 
Thou hast o'erlabored both with hand and heart, 
And bending now with grief and care o'erfraught, 
Wouldst yield ere thou hast borne thy destined 

part ! 

LXXVII. 

" Cease then from toil ; forget each idle care ! 
For if thou will'st it, thou canst e'en forget ; 
And further from the current's swirl and fret, 
Slow drifting down this moon-kissed streamlet fair, 
Let us seek calm and respite for a time, 
Breathe the woods' spirit in the fragrant air, 
And find in solitude a rest sublime ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 49 

*- 

LXXVIII. 

" Thus calmly resting for an idle day 

By blooming banks, in silence, save the sound 

Of soothing, leafy whispers all around, 

Or drowsy hum of bees that bear away 

From dew decked flowers the ravished nectar store, 

Shalt thou find heart, and turn this sweet delay 

To strength and purpose for the toil before ! " 

LXXIX. 

And turning as he spoke, with ready hand, 
The helm, they entered 'twixt the narrow shores, 
And drifted down the stream with idle oars, 
Obedient to the current's light command ; 
By soft winds fanned, by brushing leaves caressed, 
Borne ever deeper through this unknown land, 
This moon-lit land of silence and of rest. 
4 



50 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LXXX. 

Alone in this vast sylvan solitude, 

They drifted on, yet still felt not alone ; 

A kinship sweet, a love before unknown, 

For woods and grass and fern-decked ledges rude, 

For e'en each light reed trembling in the tide, 

Grew in their hearts ; it seemed as if they viewed 

Nature's soul's self which here cared not to hide ! 

LXXXI. 

The trees o'er-arching, spoke in voices low 
Of lives made up of mingled good and ill, 
Calm, peaceful joys, and sorrows deep and still ; 
They heard soft voices in the streamlet's flow, 
And e'en the rill-cooled rocks, thick massed around, 
Told of rude pleasures at the sunset's glow, 
Spoke of a sense, a soul, yet gave no sound ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 5 I 

LXXXII. 

r And we perchance are known, our voices heard, 
Our forms mayhap work on the thin veiled sense 
Of these gray-lichened crags, these forests dense ; 
We are as they, save that our pulse is stirred 
By hotter fires, a subtler essence far 
Quickens our frames! Tis well their sense is 

blurred, 
Else they would weep to see us as we are 1 " 

LXXXIII. 

So ran the helmsman's careless revery, 

While to tired eyes the welcome calm profound 

Brought sweetest rest, and each anon lay drowned 

In slumber deep. Thus drifting tranquilly, 

Their guidance trusting to the peaceful" stream, 

The silent Future's spirit veiled drew nigh, 

And brought to each some fair and happy dream ! 



52 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LXXXIV. 

To each came visions of a landscape fair, 

Broad moon-lit floods where silver ripples played, 

Where floated countless voyagers arrayed 

In garments bright, o'er-decked with flowers rare ; 

While, crowned and reverenced by the listening 

throng, 
Sat one amid them all, who filled the air 
With the sweet, clear music of her mystic song. 

LXXXV. 

Anon by some weird impulse deep, unknown, 
Their skiff was borne far distant from the crowd, 
Changed in dim distance to a dusky cloud 
Upon the silvered tide. They were alone, 
Swept ever onward by the current wild 
With that bright Crowned-One, now fairer grown, 
Who radiant ever becked them on and smiled ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 53 

LXXXVL 

Yet ever wider grew the barring tide, 
And swifter still the swirling waters pressed 
The beckoning figure on, as though to wrest 
The peerless prize away ; while far and wide 
O'er all the scene, a dark cloud sank profound, 
And the fair vision dimmer grew, and died, 
Within its black, o'erwhelming volume drowned ! 

LXXXVIL 

Then changed the scene again, and yet again, 
To streams which flowed through sunny meadow 

land, 
With birds and fruits and flowers on every hand, 
Or to bleak watery wastes, where wind and rain 
Stung the wild waves to writhing agony ; 
Yet came that form they sought to reach in vain, 
To tone each dream with some new ecstasy ! 



54 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

LXXXVIII. 

Rich, mellow chords of sweetest harmony, 

Soft, soothing tones which came they knew not 

whence, 
To lend fresh solace to each joyous sense, 
Swept through their dreams. Their teeming hearts 

beat high ! 
Vague, radiant hopes upon their vision broke, 
Yet as the strain in distance seemed to die, 
The dream shapes vanished, and the brothers woke. 

LXXXIX. 

The blush of morning lent a rosy tone, 
A tender glow to mist and stream and shore ; 
All earth and heaven seemed freshly fashioned o'er, 
And in the voyagers' hearts a sense had grown 
Of courage, joy, and nameless hopes new-born, 
While from the oarsman's brow each trace had flown 
Of the sad weariness it late had worn ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 55 

XC. 

The image of that fair face filled each heart, 
And thus, while idly drifting down the stream, 
Each brother told the story of his dream, 
And spoke with rapture of the being blest, 
Who from each visioned scene of toil and woe 
Brought joyous solace and celestial rest, 
And to bright pictures lent a brighter glow ! 

xci. 

The helmsman spoke of one with pure-toned face, 
And deep and thoughtful eyes whence candor 

beamed, 
Who Reason's self and very essence seemed ; 
The oarsman limned a form where every grace 
Of line and color by some mystic art, 
In softest concord blending, found a place, 
And woke a keen, sweet impulse in the heart. 



56 THE RIVER OF DREAMS 

XCII. 

Then spoke the unseen brother : " Not as we 

Did the fair spirit of my dream appear, 

Not earth-born, but, as some rare being, clear, 

Etherealized, from heaven sent to free 

Our hearts from care, and point a brighter way ; 

Her soul's still, crystal depths one thrilled to see 

Shine clear, within her soft eyes pure and gray ! 

XCIII. 

Each drew a different picture, yet to each 
His own sufficed to fill his heart with rest ; 
And from the gladness of each teeming breast, 
Flew joyous songs which Echo led to reach, 
From mist-veiled mountain sides through valleys 

fair, 
The voyagers on the distant flood, to teach 
New courage to each soul o'erweighed with care ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 57 

XCIV. 

Nor thought the toilers whence the soft air came 
Which calmed the heart and soothed the pulse's beat, 
Which made their course more clear, and life more 

sweet, 
And in each bosom fanned a brighter flame ; 
While still the brothers careless sung, nor knew 
Their joyous chant could other audience claim 
Than the deep silent woods which round them grew. 

xcv. 

And thus each sang throughout the calm, bright day ; 

At times in gladsome, solitary strain, 

Yet never came the anthem back again 

So sweetly from the hill-sides far away, 

As when the unseen brother joined the song ; 

Then breathed a loftier impulse from their lay, 

Then rose the chant in richest tone and strong ! 



58 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

XCVI. 

And when the dusky red of twilight failed, 

And mists moon-silvered curled upon the stream, 

Each brother, silent, pondered o'er his dream, 

And to the still night tenderly unveiled 

The glowing thought that wore with subtle grace 

The visioned image which his heart had hailed, 

And sought his future in that radiant face. 

XCVII. 

Thus sunk in revery, as if answering borne 
To the wild seeking of each yearning breast, 
Came the same melody, the sweet tones blest, 
Heard in the distance dying ere at dawn 
From Dream-land they awoke to dream again ; 
A strong, free harmony, whose life seemed drawn 
From the soul's self, and breathed in each sweet 
strain ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 59 

XCVIII. 

An instant more and the thin mists aside 

Were swept, by some strange, unseen influence 

fanned 
To silvered feathery banks on either hand ; 
And down the moon-lit aisle of rippling tide, 
In her light skiff slow drifting with the stream, 
With glowing heart, each voyager descried 
The bright, celestial figure of his dream ! 

xcix. 

The pure, bright counterpart ; one form alone 
Wherein were softly merged each glowing line 
The oarsman praised ; each lineament divine 
The unseen brother limned ; the eyes where shone 
The heart's pure depths ; the forehead clear and fair, 
Where Reason's self had found a fitting throne, 
All seemed combined in this one being rare. 



60 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

C. 

Yet e'en as silently entranced they gazed, 

Again the creeping mists together drew, 

And veiled the heavenly image from their view ; 

While motionless they rested, and amazed 

Drank in the song, whose wild, sweet measure 

stirred 
Each breast with joy, and hopes and courage 

raised, 
And ever sunk in distance fainter heard ! 



" Arouse ye my chosen, and heed the wild voice 
Of your love newly-born, 
Of your passion deep-drawn, 
Yield all to its call and rejoice ! 
Rejoice in each bosom's keen thrilling, 
In the warm impulse wakened, and filling 
Each heart with desire 

For a guide through the mists and the night, 
With a heavenly fire, 
Which would bring ye from darkness to light ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 6l 



II. 

" Though seen but a moment, then hidden 
By gathering vapor, despair not ! 
But follow me hoping, believing, 
With a trust time and change cannot sever, 
Till the day comes when, all unforbidden, 
Side by side we may journey forever ! 

in. 

" As lies on the stream softly mirrored 
A picture of sky and of shore, 
Fair flowers on the brink, and trees bending o'er 
The calm gliding current below, 
So when in the breast 
The image doth rest 

Of what ye would seek for, some coveted goal, 
Entrancing the heart, and the mind, and the soul, 
Hold the bright picture close and preserve it ; 
'Tis the image of that which hath being, 
Of that which may yet be your own, 
If ye trustingly follow, foreseeing 
Ye can reach it by labor alone ! 



62 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 



IV. 

" Far away may it lie ! 
Perchance beyond the far portal 
Thick curtained by shadow and mist ; 
A thing bright amid treasures immortal ! 
Yet somewhere, mayhap near at hand, 
Of this bright-glowing fancy 
The substance doth wait your command ! " 



CI. 



As thus the last, sweet note in distance died, 
The brothers heard a murmur faint and far, 
As of swift waters on some curbing bar, 
The angry rush of an onsweeping tide ! 
And distant hum of mingling voices borne 
Toward them from the perfumed meadows wide, 
O'er which the moon-lit, veiling mists were 
drawn ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 63 

CII. 

Yet as they listened, ever nearer grew 

The pregnant sound, and swifter flowed the stream ; 

And each arousing from his happy dream 

Turned to his old allotted task anew, 

And as with steady helm and ready oar, 

The wide-spread, crowded river met their view, 

They entered on its hurrying flood once more. 

cm. 

Again they mingled with the toiling throng, 

And though with eager eyes they searched in vain 

To find their heart's fair idol once again, 

And idly strove to catch her matchless song 

Amid the myriad voices on the tide, 

Yet in each breast, in colors fair and strong, 

Her image rested ever to abide ! 



64 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

CIV. 

A new-found strength of arm and heart and brain, 
A nobler sense of Nature than before, 
A joy in toil that seemed as toil no more, 
Came now to mark their fair ideal's reign. 
Each rested happy in the conscious power 
At Some bright time, the hidden prize to gain, 
Content to wait till the appointed hour ! 

cv. 

Full busy days, and restful nights passed by, 
And still the bright form came not, gave no sign ; 
Yet guarded by that memory divine, 
Held holy in each heart, enthroned high, 
Each brother never doubting hoped and toiled, 
Meeting new perils with undaunted eye, 
By no unheeded chance or danger foiled ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 65 

CVI. 

There came a time when the broad flood was rent 

By rocky crags, which cut the watery way 

To wild streams swept through barriers steep and 

gray ; 
And though still hoping, no bright sign was sent 
To point their way, no heavenly guiding voice, 
To tell them whither should their course be bent ; 
With them alone must rest the urgent choice. 

evil. 

They ventured not to choose, and at its will 
The current bore them on with gathering strength, 
'Twixt dripping, lichened walls whose sombre length 
Was lost far on in screening vapors chill ; 
Whose height was gathered only from the sound 
Of sad-voiced winds, which sung their anthem shrill 
'Mid trees mist-hidden, which the steep cliffs 
crowned ! 



66 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

CVIII. 

The drear day closed, and heavy darkness fell. 
Above, the wild wind wailing seemed to bear 
Vague, broken cries of voices in despair ; 
While on the stream below as though a spell 
Constrained to leaden calm, no ripple stirred. 
Around a deathly stillness seemed to dwell, 
Marred only by the storm above them heard ! 

cix. 

In darkness buried deep, they seemed alone 
Upon the tide ! With strong, yet wavering hand 
The helmsman sought all vainly to command 
Their course down this swift-gliding stream un- 
known. 
The oarsman labored on in still despair, 
And in their hearts yet ever dimmer shone 
The guiding image of their idol fair! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 6j 

CX. 

Their unseen brother spoke no cheering word ; 
And thus they silent toiled until o'er-tried 
By the dark sense that Hope itself had died, 
When, reckless if their sharp wild cry were heard, 
They . called for help, to come they knew not 

whence, 
The last, mad, hopeless prayer from hearts deep stirred 
By the drear agony of dread suspense ! 

CXI. 

But ere its last, sad, echoing tone could fly 
To swell the wild winds' moaning chorus dread, 
Showed deep, through ragged, storm-torn clouds 

o'erhead, 
As though in answer to that piteous cry, 
The night's clear vault, with many a glittering swarm 
Of stars which seemed, in wonder, from on high, 
To note the idle fury of the storm! 



68 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

CXII. 

The sullen tempest moaned itself to sleep, 

While through rent clouds, in star-lit calm was 

shown 
Far more of Heaven than they yet had known ; 
And once again they heard the murmuring sweep 
Of the freed flood, on-hurrying before, 
And borne from out the dark cliffs' dreary keep, 
They floated on the broadened stream once more. 

CXIII. 

Again a soft light settled o'er the tide, 

And showed the hurrying river's drifting throng ; 

Again the swinging chorus clear and strong, 

Rose grandly 'mid the echoes which replied 

In harmony from each dim distant shore ; 

While came the sweet song of their dream-born 

guide, 
To cheer each brother's fainting heart once more! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS 69 



" Untrusting ! Faint-hearted ! 
When buried as shades within shade, 
Far down in the deep pressing blackness, 
Had ye looked not outward, but inward, 
Ye had noted my image 
Glowing bright 'mid the darkness around ; 
And echoed within your hearts' chambers, 
Ye had heard, had ye listened, 
My promise to help ye and guide! 

11. 

" How easy to trust, when the water 
Lies calm, and the way clear before ye ! 
Yet a trust's worth, and love's depth are shown 
But in danger, and trial, and tempest ! 

in. 

" Still bravely and well have ye labored, 
And the bright goal is near, 
And the voyage almost ended ! 
E'en now on the breeze 

Comes the sweet, mellow fragrance of Autumn ! 
And the trees in the fair gardens bend 
'Neath the burden of fruits newly ripened ! 
Then courage, the toil soon is over ! " 



70 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 



CXIV. 



With earnest eyes, in vain they sought to find 
Whence sweetly rose the welcome, ringing strain, 
While each tired heart grew strong and brave 

again, 
And as the new-born light of morning lined 
With rosy, flushing tints the mists around, 
The silvery song and radiant scene combined 
To stir each breast with nameless joy profound. 

cxv. 

Beyond, once more the silent, waveless stream 

Was parted wide ; not rudely as before 

By rugged, sombre cliffs bent threatening o'er 

A sullen tide ; but with the ruddy gleam 

Of morning flushed, a myriad streamlets gay, 

'Mid clustering isles, flowed idly on to dream, 

Twixt flowery banks, their tranquil course away. 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. J I 



CXVI. 



With richest perfume filled, of fruit and flowers, 
Breathed the soft breeze, and bore the full rich song 
Of welcoming birds that warbled, from among 
The golden boughs, the joys of sunny hours ; 
While butterflies, with mottled splendor bright, 
Athwart dusk openings of shadowy bowers 
Shone, ever wavering in their aimless flight ! 

CXVII. 

' Neath tempting boughs, by richest fruits bent o'er, 

Slow drifted on, the brothers joyous drew, 

And of the harvest, jewelled with the dew 

Of early morning, gathered bounteous store ; 

And each a sense of higher being found, 

While that grew clear, which had seemed dark 

before, 
And new light wakened on each scene around ! 



J2 THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 

CXVIII. 

Of trees and flowers, chastened and refined 

By soft reflection in the tranquil tide, 

They saw the form, and read the soul beside ; 

And from the weary past, each memory kind, 

Of what had seemed but dark and broken ways, 

One well-planned, fair-proportioned whole combined, 

The needed contrast to their sunny days ! 

CXIX. 

The silver water-threads were knit once more 
To one broad, tranquil stream, and each descried, 
Low reaching from the zenith to the tide, 
And stretching far between each unseen shore, 
A misty screen whereof each fleecy fold, 
By lightest breezes ever fashioned o'er, 
Grew radiant with a glory all untold ! 



THE RIVER OF DREAMS. 73 



cxx. 



And as the brothers gazed in still surprise, 
Shone for a moment, the light mists among, 
The presence bright whose image had so long 
O'erfilled each heart, in clearest fairest guise ; 
And while she silent 'neath the deep veil drew, 
She becked them on and smiled with kindly eyes, 
As in its misty folds she sank from view ! 

CXXI. 

Unto the helmsman came a dreamless rest, 
And he who held the hard oars toiled no more, 
But with the blissful sense of labors o'er, 
In deepest, peaceful sleep found respite blest ; 
While grew to outline clear the One Unseen, 
A pure, bright form in snowy raiment dressed, 
And thus they drifted 'neath the cloudy screen. 



MISCELLANEOUS. 



MISCELLANEOUS, 



ASLAUGA. 



I. 

Wide o'er the sheltered tufted dell, 
With verdure spreading toward the wave, 
Aslauga's flocks with tinkling bell 
Contented feed, or idly roam 
In snowy groups, like flakes of foam 
Blown from the billow-crests that lave 
That rough, storm-riven shore, the sea-mew's 
dreary home, 



78 MISCELLANEOUS. 

II. 

Unmindful of her simple care, 
With musing eyes cast o'er the main 
Aslauga sits ; her sunny hair, 
In which the morning zephyrs play, 
Neglected falls, and far away 
Her formless thoughts, in errant train, 
O'er tangled flowery paths of maiden revery 
stray. 

in. 

And to the harmony of waves 
Which showering boom upon the strand, 
Of echoes borne from dripping caves, 
And timid rustle of the fields, 
Her soul a dreamy cadence yields, 
While flies before the West-wind fanned 
The song that, o'er her heart, a gentle influence 
wields. 



ASLAUGA. 79 

"Open softly, ye silver mists, screening 
My eyes from the fair fate awaiting 
To answer the cry of my soul ! 
Bear me brightly, ye billows that roll 
From the Westward, the mystical meaning 
And truth of the witch-mother's word ! — 

'Three days shalt thou watch unabating, 
Thy gaze toward the sea, and the third 
Shall bring thee a heart which is stirred 
Like thine own, and seeks thine for its goal ! ' 

" Thrice the crystalline glow of the morning 
Hath roseate flushed o'er the mountain, 
And jewelled its summits of snow; 
And twice hath the hot, lurid flow 
Of the sun-river borne on, adorning 
The western horizon with »flame, 
Till the billow hath quenched its red fountain ; 
And still rests the cloud-line the same, 
The soft breeze doth whisper no name, 
No sign doth the blue heaven show ! " 



80 MISCELLANEOUS. 

IV. 

And here Aslauga's voice doth die, 

For as in answer to her song, 

With trembling lips and color high, 

From o'er the watery waste afar 

She sees, as from some sea-tossed star, 

A gleam o'er wave crests flashed along, 

An instant resting there, fine drawn, a golden bar. 



And from the horizon's misty verge 
Anon new quivering sea-stars rise, 
While glance their rays along the surge ; 
And drifting shoreward with the wind 
They grow to gilded ships, o'erlined 
With burnished shields, before her eyes ; 
While pulses through her heart a rapture scarce 
defined. 



ASLAUGA 8 I 

VI. 

And from the scattered fleet that bears 
Now off, now toward the rocky shore, 
A ship, which at her mast-head wears 
A pennant with a royal crest, 
With freight of warriors richly dressed, 
Her figured prow deep gilded o'er, 
Doth swiftly landwards o'er the broad-backed bil- 
lows breast ! 

VII. 

Till, mindful of the helmsman's hand, 
She turns upon her foaming track, 
Not nearer venturing to the land 
To meet with flapping sail and line 
The shrill-voiced wind and showering brine, 
And from her anchor straining back, 
Retreating waves "again their severed bulk combine. 
6 



82 MISCELLANEOUS. 

VIII. 

And when from down the vessel's side 
A boat k is lowered, and glancing oars 
Concerted dip the swelling tide, 
And toward a sheltered nook draw near 
Which offers haven still and clear 
And smiling mocks the rocky shore, 
Aslauga's soul doth halt 'twixt glad surprise and 
fear. 

IX. 

She fain would fly, yet pausing turns 

To bend her steps along the green, 

And seeks the fountain fringed with ferns 

And softest mosses, near at hand, 

A chalice formed of bubbling sand, 

O'ershadowed by the sombre screen 

Of fragrant sighing pines, which by its border stand. 



ASLAUGA. 83 

X. 

Then kneeling at the^ tufted rim, 
And mirrored on its surface fair 
'Mid grasses pictured from the brim, 
And pine-sprays 'gainst a gem of sky, 
She scans her face with anxious eye, 
And blushing braids her tangled hair, 
While in her fluttering breast all thought of flight 
doth die. 

XI. 

The boat rests on the shingly strand, 
And toward Aslauga nearer draw, 
In glittering garb, a scattered band 
With bearded faces bronzed by sun 
And ocean-blasts, led on by one 
Whose brow some sadness shadows o'er, 
With master's mien and eyes to drop abashed to 
none. 



84 MISCELLANEOUS. 

XII. 

Yet when Aslauga's timid gaze 
Doth meet his own, mark then the change 
On either' s face ; the hot blood plays 
O'er cheek and brow, and soul meets soul, 
And meeting finds the restful goal 
Which seemed y till now so far and strange; 
While from each wakening heart the veiling shad- 
ows roll. 

XIII. 

"The voice which came but yester-night 
From dream-land as I sleeping lay, 
And bade me seek the treasure bright 
Which rested on the nearest shore, 
And led me here, hath granted more 
Than gold or jewels could outweigh, 
The brightest boon the hand of Fortune ever 
bore ! " 



ASLAUGA. 85 

XIV. 

Thus Regner Logbrod, Denmark's king, 
Doth speak, and nears the fountain's side ; 
In vain Aslauga strives to bring 
Her soul to wear its wonted calm ; 
His presence works a wondrous charm 
Which holds her resolution tied 
In love-wrought bonds, and doth her maiden-pride 
disarm. 

xv. 

Then rising with his proffered hand, 

She reads within his down-turned face, 

A burning love as wildly fanned 

As that which now consumes her breast ; 

And following her heart's behest, 

She trembling yields to his embrace, 

And finds a haven fair of tranquil love and rest. 



86 MISCELLANEOUS. 

Then sighs the pine, and purls the rill : 
" How far the king doth fall, 
Yet kinglier than before : 
How noble grows the maid 
With Love 's pure flowers arrayed : 
True love doth level all ! " 
While birds from out the coppice trill, 
And carol from the branches green, 
"The flocks have lost a Shepherdess, 
And Denmark gains a Queen ! " 



A LILY. 87 



A LILY. 



Within a dusky coppice by the stream 

Wherein the leafy shadows soft embrace, 

My lady rests, with pure blue eyes which dream 

Upon the tiny lily-bells which grace 

With modest, virgin white, the mossy ground, 

And seem themselves in revery profound. 

11. 

White-clad, with pensive bended head she seems 
To be in sweet communion with the flowers, 
And as their queen to counsel while she dreams, 
How best to live the tranquil perfumed hours, 
Till freed by withering winds, and parching skies, 
They bloom again in brighter, nobler guise. 



88 MISCELLANEOUS. 



III. 



The rare pure essence, the pale-burning flame 
Released, dies not when leaf and blossom fade, 
But merged, transformed, though ever still the 

same, 
Through prouder forms of being is conveyed. 
We claim a soul, and higher life to be, 
And why should not the flowers as well as we ! 

IV. 

A thousand lilies blended into one 

My lady seems, and with far-dreamy gaze 

She sees in these pale flowers, new lives begun, 

And looking, dimly dreams of other days, 

Of joys from fanning winds, and dew, and rain, 

Sweet, restful days that ne'er can come again ! 



SONNET. 89 



SONNET. 

That man alone is king who nothing fears, 
Who rests, and waits with ever tranquil heart 
And soul, where never paling doubt uprears 
Its aimless face, to bear his destined part ; 
Who lives the present bravely, nor doth start 
With blanching cheek, when through the mist of 

years, 
Vague phantoms of a future dimmed with tears, 
Stalk sorrowing to greet him as he nears ; 
Dull, harmless shades, which ever trembling bow 
Before that master-will, and dauntless brow 
Which speaks the majesty of self-wrought power. 
With this broad empire doth each one endow 
Himself, alone, who sees misfortune lower, 
Unmoved, and holds his sceptre from that hour ! 



90 MISCELLANEOUS. 



FORTUNE'S FAVORITE. 



Fair Fortune called her favorites one day, 
To grant to each some token of her grace ; 
On one bestowed rare gems and jewels gay, 
To one gave power and high appointed place, 
And to another lands, and castles gray ; 
To each the wish that near each bosom lay. 

ii. 

To all save one ; the one she held most dear, 
And he abashed, stood waiting, when the rest 
Had gayly passed, for Fortune to draw near 
And grant the favor dearest to his breast ; 
She comes at last, her blushing brow is clear, 
And thus speaks softly to his anxious ear. 



FORTUNE'S FAVORITE. 9 1 

III. 

44 1 know thy thought, and read thy open heart, 
Yet from my very love would e'en deny 
The thing thou cravest. Thou hast ready art 
To please with song, or hold the charmed eye 
With penciled outlines ; bid the slack blood start 
By eloquence, and thine own fires impart. 

IV. 

"With these and more from birth thou hast been 

blest ; 
Yet thou hast used them ill, these powers divine ; 
But now, to grant thee more than all the rest, 
And for thy lot my fairest gifts combine, 
I give thee but the impulse to invest 
Thy powers with life, and wield them at their 

best. " 



92 MISCELLANEOUS. 



At this the favored youth ungrateful turned, 
And murmuring sought the forest's deepest shade 
To mourn his lot : " Alas ! too late I 've learned," 
He sadly sung, " that Fortune lends her aid 
To those who love her least, and least have earned, 
While I who served her gladly, thus am spurned. 



VI. 

" A single want was mine, I wished but power 
To please the high-born maid whom I adore ; 
And thought when Fortune poured her glittering 

shower 
Upon the rest, that from her bounteous store 
I might find grace to gain my lady's bower ; 
But no, my wish came at a luckless hour ! " 



FORTUNE'S FAVORITE. 93 



VII. 



As thus he sadly sings in sweetest strain, 
Toward him hasten through the whispering wood, 
Fair Fortune's favorites in straggling train, 
The very same that e'en but now had stood 
Gift-laden round her throne, and pressing strain 
To reach his side, his patient ear to gain. 



VIII. 



" Oh ! teach me but the secret of thy art, 
To move with song my fair one's icy breast, " 
Cried one who sighed, " and gladly will I part 
With all the glittering gems false Fortune pressed 
Upon my hands, ere other thoughts should start 
Within my soul, to rouse my sleeping heart ! " 



94 MISCELLANEOUS. 

IX. 

Another offers flocks and spreading lands, 
To learn the subtle magic of his speech, 
And still another bears with straining hands 
A boundless wealth of gold, until from each 
Some fair possession waits for his commands, 
And richest gifts press on him where he stands. 



Then Goddess Fortune wandered from the shade, 
And smiling drew toward the wondering youth : 
" Ingrate, " she said, " confess thyself o'er-weighed 
With deepest shame to doubt my love and truth : 
Go now with power and riches thus arrayed, 
Nor doubt to win thy poor, but high-born maid ! " 



A SONG OF THE WOODBINE. 95 



A SONG OF THE WOODBINE. 

1. 

Spurning the ground, 
Clambering around 
In sinuous net-work, the shadowy Pine, 
The Woodbine thus whispered : " What wisdom 
is mine ; 

What a refuge and rest 
Find I here on the breast 
Of this God of the Woods, — this Monarch of 

trees, — 
Whose wide-reaching arms wave commands to the 
breeze .; 

All powerful he stands, green and hale, 
And cries to derision the gale ! " 



9^ MISCELLANEOUS. 



II. 



Shunning the light, 
Hiding from sight 
In intricate windings through grass and through 

brier, 
Thus whispered the Woodbine : " My brother 
climbs higher 

Than dare I toward the sun ; 
While o'er mosses I run, 
Or sleep at noon-tide in the shadow of flowers, 
Strives he ever to reach where the Pine highest 
towers ; 

Contented am I with my fate, 
Let others pay court to the great! 



A SONG OF THE WOODBINE. 97 






III. 



Listen with dread ! 
Hear ye the tread 

Of the woodman who comes with axe in his hand ! 

Ah ! woe to the Pine, though born to withstand 
The fierce shock of the storm, 
And the terrors which swarm 

Round its head in the gale ! Now bends it at 
last ! 

Its dominion is over, its glory is past ! 

And alas ! for the vine which sought rest 
And support on its sheltering breast. 






















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